Taking into account the heightened threat perception at the Delhi Airport, another CISF official, however, said the security system at the airport might not be foolproof. “The entire baggage of the person profiled by the CISF men is frisked using EVDs (explosive vapour detectors). But random profiling may not be foolproof as the gadgets detect only explosives. The EVDs cannot detect other weapons like automatic guns,” another official said on the condition of anonymity.

-Traffic snarls grounded concourse security plan in 2002?

A concourse security plan was implemented at airports across India in 2002. But lacking the basic infrastructure, the plan drew flak from the public as it led to long queues and traffic snarls outside terminal buildings. “Many countries have a concourse security plan. But it cannot work in every country, keeping in mind different demographic characteristics,” said C K P Sinha, retired regional deputy commissioner, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security. Even though experts feel it is good to have a foolproof concourse security plan, inclement weather conditions in India and the fact that many friends and relatives crowd outside the terminal make the plan difficult to implement in the country. —ENS